Finish with forty years war, Jerusalem Christian leaders say

Published: 28 May 2007

Describing the "daily hardships and humiliations" of Palestinians as
"unacceptable", Jerusalem's Christian leaders have called on Israel to
end its occupation of territories and for the recognition of a
Palestinian state.

Catholic News
reports that the leaders issued their call on the 40th anniversary of
the 1967 Israeli-Arab war, asking all people to "work diligently for
peace" as God's children.

"It is totally unacceptable for the
situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and
humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly
to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe
the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the
Palestinians," the church leaders said in their letter on 27 May.

They
noted that their position on Jerusalem, stated in November, includes
recognising the rights of the three monotheistic faiths - Christianity,
Islam and Judaism - and the needs of the Israelis and Palestinians in
the city.

"Now we sincerely believe it is time to intensify
action, particularly through negotiation, to end occupation, establish
an independent Palestinian state ... with borders clearly defined, thus
giving both peoples, Israelis and Palestinians alike, human dignity,
security and equal opportunities," they said.

"Many injustices
have to be reversed, not least the restoration of land to lawful
indigenous owners and the so-called (Israeli) security wall
demolished," they added.

Catholic signatories of the letter
included Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah; Franciscan Father Pierbattista
Pizzaballa, who is in charge of Christian sites in the Holy Land;
Maronite Archbishop Paul Nabil Sayah of Haifa; Melkite Bishop George
Baker and Armenian Catholic Father Rafael Minassian.

In the 1967
war, also known as the Six-Day War, Israel captured East Jerusalem,
inhabited by Palestinians, as well as the West Bank, Gaza Strip and
other areas. The security wall the leaders referred to is a series of
barbed wire fences, security roads and looming cement slabs which, if
completed as planned, would stretch nearly 400 miles and restrict the
movements of 38 per cent of residents of the West Bank.

The
Christian leaders also urged Christians to join in the second
International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, which
will take place from 3-9 June, simultaneously in the Holy Land and in
various Christian communities around the world.

The initiative
involves groups that support the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in
Palestine and Israel and have organised unconnected events such as
symposiums, conferences and solidarity visits during that period.

Last
year the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi International also
participated in the initiative. Several groups reported participation
by Jews and Muslims as well.